- This topic has 6 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 5 years, 9 months ago by .
- Posts
Hey guys,
I’m new but I figured this would be the right place to ask. I’m buying my first house and I have a very old gas boiler (60s) and a very old hot water heater.
Was wondering if this is something I would want to keep. I keep hearing these water heaters were so well built and the retro look is pretty cool.
Any info on this thing would be most appreciated!!!!
I couldn’t upload a clearer pic but it says Bradford and I believe Magnadur
Hi: A little more info would be nice. The main thing to learn is what the tank is made of. You said “Magnadur”. Tanks made of copper have been labelled “Everdur”. That would make for a very long lived tank. Anyway, if you can post photos of the tags and perhaps the gas control, I could pin it down a little better. One thing I do not see on that tank is a T&P valve. It NEEDS one!! I’ll add that earthquakes happen in more places than California, so strapping might not be a silly thing to do. 😉
Yours, Larry
Hello: For you and whoever may read this, the T&P needs to be able to sense the temperature at the top of the tank. If it’s out in the plumbing, it will not see the correct temperature, so is no protection against an explosion. This matters particularly with an older tank where the control is already decades old and could fail. So, when you get there, put a “T” in the hot outlet, as close to the tank as you can get it and that will give you a place to add a new relief valve. We can then all sleep better 😎
Yours, Larry
I would inspect the burner area, that soot trail is a little alarming, it might be nothing or it might indicate chronic back-drafting. The gas supply pipe should have a drip leg to help keep foreign matter out of the control valve. But, as Larry said, a properly located and functioning T&P valve is THE MOST IMPORTANT.
That said, I agree about the retro look. I love that large radius edge on the formed steel top cap! Some things were made better “back then”, but most also looked cooler. Industrial design used to be about catching a customer’s eye, not just shaving pennies off the manufacturing costs.
Good luck with the first house!
ChuckHello Chuck: You’re right, they don’t make heaters like they used to! 😛 I think of this Humphrey as one of the prettiest American heaters ever made.
Yours, Larry
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.